The GOAT vs. The Frosh, Round 2 - Girls 200m
PA State Rankings: 200m
The State Favorites: Fore Abinusawa (Germantown Academy); Thelma Davies (Girard College)
Top Medal Contenders: Bria Barnes (Cheltenham); Talitha Diggs (Saucon Valley); Arianna Eberly (Coatesville); Sanaa Hebron (George School); Teliyah James (Norristown); Jane Madson (Upper Saint Clair); Molly Mangan (Mount Lebanon); Porsha Miles (Coatesville); Mykala Perry (Neumann Goretti); Jada Smith (Swenson); Rorie Spencer (Abington)
Dark Horses: Lydia Bottelier (Palisades); Sabria Epps (Springside Chestnut Hill); Leah Graybill (Warwick); Brianna Smith (Cheltenham); Molly Wagner (Thomas Jefferson)
Sizing It Up: Round 2 of the Davies-Abinusawa matchup will come in the 200 meters at indoor states. Davies has won the last two state titles, and sits at PA#1/US#7 in the event with a 24.07 from the Hispanic Games. Abinusawa went 24.35 to win the New Balance Games last week. Neither girl was contested in either victory, though. The pair very well may not see any legitimate competition until they face-off at Penn State.
The state record is 23.74 and Davies and Abinusawa could very well push each other to that record.
Another frosh, Hebron, has impressed and went 24.82 earlier this winter making her a serious threat. Diggs and Barnes haven't raced the 200 yet this season, but there 300m and 400m performances show they will be easy contenders for high finishes. Madson went 25.54 on a flat track at Edinboro -- sleeping on this sprint talent would be a mistake. Perry has also not raced a 200 on a banked track this season; she's a returning medalist along with Mangan.